“If the weather keeps people away, ... we’re going to get slammed when they do come back.” - Harrisburg Mall General Manager Bill Russel

Update: Harrisburg Mall closes at 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

HARRISBURG – Holiday shoppers got out early Saturday in Central Pennsylvania in an attempt to beat the snowstorm that had thinned crowds by evening.

For at least part of the day, the threat of the storm and government warnings to avoid driving seemed to prevent the typical boost one might expect on a weekend 10 days before Christmas.

That appeared to be the case most of the day at Harrisburg Mall, where merchants reported that business was on the slow side of normal for a Saturday outside the holiday season.

At the Capital City Mall, however, the weather didn’t affect traffic until after snow actually started falling around 2 p.m., according to shoppers and workers.

Very few customers at Torchbearer Sauces seemed to care about the possible inclement weather, according to customer service representative John Lauver.

Lauver attributed that to last weekend’s lackluster snowfall. Shoppers seemed to rush to beat the storm, and many fellow kiosks closed, early last Sunday for what turned out to be no good reason, he said.

To make up for last weekend’s “lost sales”, many stores offered deep discounts typically offered closer to Christmas, Lauver said.

That was the case at Harrisburg Mall, too.

Justified or not, the weather-forced slowdown on successive weekends in December means some retailers are bracing for an onslaught next week, said the property’s general manager Bill Russel.

“If the weather keeps people away, the truth is that they will come back, but we’re going to get slammed when they do come back because the shopping has to be done (before Christmas),” Russel said.

That won't be an issue for Meghan Buffington and Amy Williams.

Buffington, 31, and Williams, 32, had finished their Christmas shopping by Saturday, but opted to spend a “girls’ day” with two other friends at Capital City Mall.

“We have four-wheel drive,” said Buffington, of Mechanicsburg, of their decision to brave the possible blizzard.

She and Williams were, however, surprised at how many people chose to do the same early Saturday.

Williams said she had trouble finding a parking space there early in the afternoon.

“Considering the weather, it’s still pretty busy,” Buffington said.

But both women said the crowds appeared to be dwindling as the afternoon wore on and the snowfall continued to intensify.

Lisa Hasselbrook relayed similar observations from her post at the gift-wrapping station run by United Cerebral Palsy of Central Pennsylvania.

“People were wrapping all (morning), but then it started to slow down,” said Hasselbrook, the agency’s community relations coordinator.

As long as the mall stays open, so will the station. But Hasselbrook said she might tell some volunteers to say home if the storm continues.

Harrisburg and Capital City malls will keep their planned extended hours this weekend, although Harrisburg anchor Bass Pro Shop will close two hours early at 9 p.m. and other mall tenants there have the option of doing the same, Russell said.

Malls themselves rarely close due to inclement weather during the holiday season, and Saturday was no different.

But other, smaller businesses whose volume doesn’t change much during the holidays – such as gyms and beauty salons, for example – started shut their doors early, announcing the pre-mature closures soon after the snow began to accumulate late in the afternoon.

An apparent anomaly in the region, Barnes & Noble’s Camp Hill location did not open at all Saturday.

Company spokeswoman Mary Ellen Keating said such decisions “are all made locally by the store managers.”

Related Stories

Featured Story

Get 'Today's Front Page' in your inbox

This newsletter is sent every morning at 6 a.m. and includes the morning's top stories, a full list of obituaries, links to comics and puzzles and the most recent news, sports and entertainment headlines.

optionalCheck here if you do not want to receive additional email offers and information.See our privacy policy

Thank you for signing up for 'Today's Front Page'

To view and subscribe to any of our other newsletters, please click here.